My sister lives in Michigan. She is the one that initially told me about this crazy situation in that state. Anyone who does not have a felony background can apply and get a permit to carry a concealed weapon-a handgun. I think that law has just recently gone into effect so Michigan is in compliance with the Second Amendment on the constitutional right to keep and bear arms.
But it is a felony in the state of Michigan to carry a 10% solution of pepper spray or a stun gun both considered nonlethal self defense products.
Nonlethal self defense products provide an alternative to the deadly force of a handgun. They disable an assailant for five to 45 minutes providing a potential victim time to escape a dangerous situation.
Recently in Bay City, Michigan a man was wearing a stun gun on his belt while working in a retail store. Someone ratted him out and gave police a tip. He was arrested for possessing the device. The person working with him in the same store was wearing a handgun on his hip but the police did not arrest him.
Apparently, the judge said his hearing on the case is going to rule on the Second Amendment idea that a stun gun or pepper spray is constitutionally allowed under the Second Amendment.
Now I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer but I cannot understand why in the state of Michigan if you pay all the right fees and do what you have to do and don't have a felony you can legally carry a lethal weapon even hidden under a jacket or in your purse. If you carry a stun gun or a pepper spray-both nonlethal-you could end up in jail.
Another fact that the man who was carrying a stun gun on his belt didn't know it was illegal doesn't really make any difference. Most people in the state may not even know. Michiganders who order stun guns and pepper sprays from me are disappointed because I cannot send them there.
The only pepper spray that's allowed in Michigan is a special Michigan approved pepper spray, a 2% solution of oleoresin capsicum.
The court case, like all the court cases, could take years. I guess the real question is why should they wait that long? Why can't the state legislature just pass a law making it legal to carry less than lethal self defense products?
There are six other states were stun guns are illegal. Coincidentally, they are the states with the highest crime rates. Pepper sprays have some restrictions in a few states of which Michigan is one of them.
